The single man from Fairways in Frodsham, who travelled along the A5117 to work for nearly 15 years, was seen speeding by motorists.

Two witnesses pointed out that on the dark winter morning he was not using his lights and was dressed in all black, making him difficult to see.

The draughtsman, on his way to Ellesmere Port, rode straight into a Fiesta driven by an au pair doing a school-run.

Erika Foriska was pulling out of Pool Lane, Thornton-le-Moors, at about 8.25am on December 1. The girls in her care, aged 16, 12 and 10, were taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Mr Shipman was also taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination revealed a fracture to the base of his skull killed him.

Medics also found he was over the legal alcohol limit.

At an inquest in Chester last Wednesday witness Roger Bedford said he was on his way to Ellesmere Port when Mr Shipman passed him.

Mr Bedford thought the bike was going at about 80mph. He later caught up with the bike at a petrol station and told the rider to turn his lights on as he could not be seen. But the biker ignored him and rode on.

Malcom Grey, a chemist from Comberbach, near Northwich, was also overtaken by Mr Shipman that morning. He said: 'It was a dark morning and it had been raining. I remember thinking this chap is going to have an accident.'

Parts of an interview between Miss Foriska and Constable Karen Blundell after the accident were read out in which she stressed how difficult it was to see Mr Shipman.